The Lesser Known Tools

Last updated Oct 17, 2003.

We've covered the basic tools that are in a typical Web designer's
toolbox. This is a list of additional applications for those who work on Web
sites needing more applications as well as small, but powerful and useful tools
for validating the Web site.

Macromedia Captivate (formerly RoboDemo) — Create Flash-based tutorials, presentations, and demos without using Flash's interface or scripting language. After creating the movie, Captivate can save the file as an .html file with a .swf for online viewing or as an executable. It's easy and fun to use.

RoboHelp — Create help systems and documentation for Web-based and desktop applications similar to the help files you see in any program when you click F1.

Omni Products 
Offers applications for the Mac that do diagramming, charting, outliner, and Web
browsing.

Crystal Reports
 Generate different report types that are flexible and integrated with Web
and windows applications.

Liorean @ web-graphics.com
- Grab the bookmarklets to view a Web site's style sheet and scripts. Drag
them to your bookmarks / favorites and click on them whenever you want to put it
into action. The bookmarklets have full comments for understanding how they
work.

HTML Tidy - Clean
markup with this fast and powerful tool, which can be integrated into some HTML
programs.

Bobby
 Test Web pages using WAI (Web Access Initiative) and Section 508
guidelines. After running a Web site through Bobby, it reports problem areas
needing fixing before considered compliant with the guidelines.